Wellington, FL – January 28, 2015 – Vanessa Creech-Terauds had a breakout year in 2014, attending her first North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) and earning team silver in the Juniors with Canada’s Ontario team. Now, 2015 is off to an even better start, as the 14-year-old from Caistor Centre, Ontario, has begun a new partnership with Leatherdale Farms’ Rob Roy.
Creech-Terauds is the daughter of Diane Creech, who rides five of Leatherdale Farms’ top competition horses. Doug and Louise Leatherdale generously made Rob Roy available for Creech-Terauds after the horse, who had a successful career standing at stud at Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany, had to be gelded due to health issues. The 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Rubin Royal made the trip to Canada in mid-December and is already off to a great start in his new career.
“We just seemed to fit together really well from the beginning, so it has been nice getting to know each other,” Creech-Terauds said.
On Jan. 8 and 9, just a few weeks after they began working together, the pair competed in the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 1 national show. They began their career together on a positive note with scores of 66.824 percent for the Team test and 66.382 percent for the Individual test.
“When we were showing, he was really good!” Creech-Terauds said. “He definitely knows his stuff when he goes into the ring. The judges all really liked him and left positive comments saying ‘very elegant pair’ and ‘lovely horse.’ I feel very confident with him in the ring and confident after. You can tell he’s happy in the show ring. He loves it, and I love it.”
Creech-Terauds’ goal for her first season with Rob Roy is to compete successfully at the 2015 NAJYRC, and she now has two qualifying scores under her belt. Her mother, Creech, will be working with Rob Roy this winter while Creech-Terauds is back in Ontario at school.
“She really wants to do very well at school, so she needs to focus on that for a little bit,” Creech explained. “We are talking about her coming back for a couple of shows. Now I can spend some time with him and get to know him a little bit.”
She feels the horse is a perfect match for her daughter: Rob Roy has the talent and training to excel in the show arena as well as the levelheadedness to be a safe, confidence-building mount for the 14-year-old.
“They make a pretty picture and fit very well together,” she said. “It’s really great for her to be on a horse with a big heart and a great character, one that she can learn on. It’s nice for him to have a job, and Vanessa spoils him rotten. When I dropped her off at the airport, I said, ‘Honestly, who do you miss more: your horse or your mother?’ I think it was a close one!”
Both mother and daughter can’t say enough about the generosity of Doug and Louise Leatherdale in supporting Creech-Terauds with the ride on Rob Roy.
“They are just such incredible people, so amazing and supportive,” Creech-Terauds said. “When I heard that they would be willing to sponsor me with a horse, I really couldn’t believe it. They always made me feel like part of the team, and to be able to ride one of their horses now is so amazing.”
Creech said she was grateful for the Leatherdales’ interest in her daughter’s success, noting that they truly care about ensuring the partnership will be positive for both horse and rider.
“When I called Doug and Louise after the show, where I was also competing with Robbie W and Hallmark, their first questions were, ‘How was Vanessa?’ ‘Did she like Rob Roy?’ ‘Tell Vanessa we’re so proud of her,’” Creech said. “That makes Vanessa feel so good and so confident. I won’t ever be able to give as much back to them as they’re giving to us.”
About Leatherdale Farms
Situated 20 minutes from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Leatherdale Farms is a privately owned farm owned and managed by Louise and Doug Leatherdale and dedicated to Hanoverian, Trakehner and Oldenburg breeding. The Leatherdale family owns several licensed stallions based in Dorum, Germany, at Hengststation Jens Meyer: the premium elite Hanoverians Damsey (Dressage Royal), First Dance (Florestan II), Hampton (His Highness), Beltano (Belissimo M); the premium elite Trakehner, Herzensdieb (Tambour); and the Oldenburg Fairbanks (Flemmingh). Frozen semen is available in North America and Europe. Leatherdale Farms was also the owner of the Hanoverian stallion His Highness, who died in 2007 and whose progeny is much appreciated all over the world.
To learn about Leatherdale Farms stallions in Europe, go to www.jens-meyer.com.
For more information, log onto www.leatherdalefarm.com.
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